法苑珠林 42.31

42.31

又優婆塞戒經云。若自造作衣服鉢器。先奉上佛。并令父母師長和尚先一受用。然後自服。若上佛者。以華香贖。凡所食噉要先施於沙門梵志。然後自食也。正下食時復須作念。初下一匙飯時。願斷一切惡盡。下第二匙時。願修一切善滿。下第三匙時。所修善根迴施眾生普共成佛。若不能口口作念。臨欲食時總作一念亦得。故摩德勒伽論云。若得食時口口作念。得衣時著著作念。入房時入入作念。若鈍根者總作一念。故華嚴經第六卷。菩薩有一百四十願。凡所施為皆誦偈念。如此食者非有煩惱。利生物善。故增一阿含經云。施中上者不過法施。業中上者不過法業。恩中上者不過法恩。若過分飽食則氣急。身滿百脈不通。令心壅塞坐念不安。若限分少食則身羸心懸意慮無固。故增一阿含經偈云。

Furthermore, the Upāsaka-śīla-sūtra states: "If one makes clothing or alms-bowls oneself, one must first offer them to the Buddha, and also let one's parents, teachers, elders, and upādhyāya use them once before wearing them oneself. If offering them to the Buddha, one redeems them with flowers and incense. Whatever food one eats must first be given to śramaṇas and brahmans before one eats it oneself." When taking food, one must also produce mindfulness: When swallowing the first spoonful of rice, vow to eradicate all evils completely; when swallowing the second spoonful, vow to cultivate all goodness to fulfillment; when swallowing the third spoonful, vow to dedicate the roots of goodness cultivated to sentient beings so that all may attain Buddhahood together. If one cannot maintain mindfulness mouthful by mouthful, it is also acceptable to maintain a single comprehensive mindfulness when about to eat. Therefore, the Mātṛkā-śāstra states: "When receiving food, be mindful mouthful by mouthful; when receiving clothing, be mindful garment by garment; when entering a room, be mindful upon entering each time. If one is of dull faculties, generate a single comprehensive mindfulness." Therefore, in the sixth fascicle of the Avataṃsaka-sūtra, the bodhisattva has one hundred and forty vows; whatever one does, one recites verses and remains mindful. Eating in this manner avoids afflictions, benefits sentient beings, and produces good. Therefore, the Ekottarika-āgama states: "Among all gifts, none surpasses the gift of Dharma; among all actions, none surpasses the action of Dharma; among all kindnesses, none surpasses the kindness of Dharma." If one eats to excess, one's breath becomes labored, the body becomes congested and the hundred vessels do not circulate, causing the mind to be blocked and sitting in meditation to be uneasy. If one restricts oneself to too little food, the body becomes emaciated, the mind suspended, and thought unsettled. Therefore, a verse in the Ekottarika-āgama states: